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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  2. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  3. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  4. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  5. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  6. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  7. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  8. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  9. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  10. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  11. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  12. The ________________ market has crashed.
  13. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  14. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  15. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  16. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  17. My mare is ________________ in color.
  18. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  19. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  20. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  21. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  22. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  24. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. wave — of the sea
  2. fall — to drop
  3. fall — to drop
  4. lash — a whip stroke
  5. wave — with your hand
  6. bay — to keep at bay
  7. bore — to drill
  8. bay — a part of the sea
  9. fall — the season
  10. board — a flat piece
  11. bore — gave birth
  12. stock — shares
  13. board — a committee
  14. cue — a hint
  15. cue — a signal
  16. wave — a sudden rise
  17. bay — a horse colour
  18. stock — a soup base
  19. lash — an eyelash
  20. bore — to tire
  21. cue — for pool
  22. lash — to lash out
  23. board — to get on
  24. stock — goods

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com